When attempting to lose weight most nutritional guidelines limit the amount of calories consumed in one day. To help cut down on snacking and build self control consider challenging yourself to maintain a state of mild hunger until it is time for your next meal.

Personal finance blogger Mr. Money Mustache points out how to trick yourself into turning mild hunger into a tool:

it's an unusual feeling for a rich-world person, but once you get used to it, having a slight craving in your tummy can make you feel invigorated and warriorlike. When you are really hungry, eat a good meal. But if you're just slightly hungry, imagine that your body has moved its suction tube from the usual "stomach" setting, over to "stored fat reserves". It is now a positive challenge to maintain this mild hunger as long as possible, because you want to keep that suction going for many hours each day.

Keep in mind that this technique should not be confused with anorexia, but if you have a visible beer belly a little mild hunger won't hurt you. Also consider that many eating plans revolve around several small meals instead of the traditional breakfast-lunch-dinner paradigm, and this technique won't be the best for that. If you do want to try it out you can always supplement with very low calorie snacks such as celery, cucumbers, or carrots. These add nutrition and can dull the sharpness of a hunger pang without disarming it completely.